Using "fat" to describe a hen...

[crumpetcrumpets]

Hi everyone - I am writing a children's book, and I describe a character as a "fat laying hen". I wanted to gage a general feel to whether as parents you feel this is simply descriptive, whether anyone feels that referring to a laying hen as fat has negative connotations and just general feedback to using the word "fat" to describe an animal.

All feedback welcomed!

[AnnoyedByAlfieBear]

I'd see it as just a description (as long as the hen is actually fat).

[thenewbrunette]

Personally the word fat would not concern me to describe an animal. I would just see it as descriptive.

[OverScentedFanjo]

In "what the ladybird heard" Julia Donaldson writes about "the fat red hen" it wouldn't occur to me to get worked up about it.

[seafoodeatit]

It's just descriptive, a ditty book DS got a week ago had a fat bug and a long thin bug, it's just the norm in kids books I think.

[DropYourSword]

No problem with the word fat, think it's unhealthy to shield children from reality.

On rereading though, if people were being reeeeeally picky, I suppose you could say this was either a fat hen that laid eggs, or some sort of greasy bummed chicken that laid globs of butter!

[NotCitrus]

Nine, ten, a big fat hen.
Fat cushions, fat tires, fat succulent sausages...

Lots of things that are good to be fat. Probably good to have the word used in positive contexts.